Status of North Carolina Bridges

Report to the

21st Century Transportation Committee

February, 2008

Lacy D. Love, PEDirector of Asset ManagementNCDOT

Status of NC BridgesStatus of NC BridgesIntroductionIntroduction

DefinitionsDefinitions

BridgesBridges vsvs. Structures. Structures

Inspection Program OverviewInspection Program Overview

Bridge ConditionBridge Condition

Performance GoalsPerformance Goals

Management ApproachManagement Approach

ChallengesChallenges

BridgesBridges vsvs. Structures. Structures

Bridges

PipesCulverts

Floating barge w/Bridge

Structurally Deficient BridgeStructurally Deficient Bridge

Haywood County #79 built in 1891Haywood County #79 built in 1891

Structurally Deficient ~ 2200Structurally Deficient ~ 2200

Functionally Obsolete BridgeFunctionally Obsolete Bridge

Functionally Obsolete ~ 3000

Functionally Obsolete due to roadway clearance

Sufficiency RatingSufficiency Rating Established by FHWAEstablished by FHWA

Compares existing bridge to a new bridge designed to currentCompares existing bridge to a new bridge designed to currentengineering standardsengineering standards

Measure of BridgeMeasure of Bridge’’s overall condition (scale 0 to 100)s overall condition (scale 0 to 100)

Used to determine eligibility for Federal Aid Bridge fundsUsed to determine eligibility for Federal Aid Bridge funds

Must be < 50 for ReplacementMust be < 50 for Replacement

Must be < 80 for RehabilitationMust be < 80 for Rehabilitation

Does not imply the bridge is unsafeDoes not imply the bridge is unsafe

Formula based onFormula based on

Structural Condition of Bridge (55%)Structural Condition of Bridge (55%)

Serviceability and Obsolescence (30%)Serviceability and Obsolescence (30%)

Essentiality to public use (15%)Essentiality to public use (15%)

•Every Bridge inspected every 2 years

•Detail inspection by Inspection teams

•Above water teams - 18

•Underwater teams - 4

•Special evaluation teams - 4

•Supplemented by private inspectors

•Each element rated based on condition (1 to 9)

•Teams document maintenance needs for each element foreach bridge

•Maintenance needs entered into Bridge ManagementSystem

Inspection ProgramInspection Program

Bridge AnalysisBridge Analysis

Status of NCDOT BridgesStatus of NCDOT Bridges

17,300 Total Structures including concrete17,300 Total Structures including concreteculverts and metal structures (pipes) that have aculverts and metal structures (pipes) that have aspan length of 20span length of 20’’ or more; stateor more; state--owned andowned andmaintained.maintained.

~ 12,600 state~ 12,600 state--owned and maintained Bridgesowned and maintained Bridges

~ 2,000 bridges with SR < 50~ 2,000 bridges with SR < 50

~ 700 bridges are programmed in TIP~ 700 bridges are programmed in TIP

~ 4,000 with timber components~ 4,000 with timber components

~ 35% increase in deck area in the last 20 years~ 35% increase in deck area in the last 20 years

Percent of Deficient NC BridgePercent of Deficient NC Bridge(includes culverts and all bridge owners)(includes culverts and all bridge owners)

20

22

24

26

28

30

32

34

36

38

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Year

Per

cen

t

NC Bridges National Bridges

NCDOTNCDOT vsvs. Southeast States. Southeast States(state(state DOTsDOTs’’ including culverts)including culverts)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Per

cen

tD

efic

ien

t

AL FL GA KY LA MS NC SC TN TX VA

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

<1930 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

# Bridges # Deficient Bridges

Age of NCDOT BridgesAge of NCDOT Bridges(not including culverts)(not including culverts)

Performance & AccountabilityPerformance & Accountability

DOT is currently implementing a newDOT is currently implementing a newperformance measures program which has as aperformance measures program which has as agoal to achieve a targeted level of service .goal to achieve a targeted level of service .

A Bridge Technical Team has been established toA Bridge Technical Team has been established todraft the performance goals which will bedraft the performance goals which will beimplemented in the new program.implemented in the new program.

Performance MeasurePerformance Measure% Structurally Deficient% Structurally Deficient

SYSTEM TARGET CURRENT GAP

SW TIER 1 % 9.9 % 8.9 %

REG. TIER 5 % 15.6 % 10.6 %

SUB. TIER 15 % 20 % 5 %

ALL TIERS 10 % 17.4 % 7.4 %

Major Bridge ComponentsMajor Bridge Components

Condition Rating DistributionCondition Rating Distribution

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

#B

rid

ges

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Deck Superstructure Substructure

Goal:

6CRCR

Performance StandardsPerformance Standards -- ExampleExample

Element: Bridge Maintenance and Preservation

Asset: Deck

Activities: Deck Maintenance

Condition Indicator: Condition Rating of less than or equal to 6.

Performance Measure: Condition Rating by Square Feet of Deck

Statewide Regional Subregional Division County

Performance Target B B C NA NA

Assessment Method BIR BIR BIR BIR BIR

LOS Description

A

B

Functional Work Group Worksheet

LOS Category

F

15% or less of condition ratings below 6.

Between 15.1% and 20% of condition ratings below 6.

Between 20.1% and 25% of condition ratings below 6.

Between 25.1% and 30% of condition ratings below 6.

30% or more of condition ratings below 6.

C

D

Performance StandardsPerformance StandardsLOS FOR DECKS

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14

DIVISIONS

%S

F<

6

SF DECK STATEWIDE TIER < 6

SF DECK REGIONAL TIER <6

SF DECK SUBREGIONAL TIER <6

LOS F

LOS D

LOS C

LOS B

LOS A

Asset Management ApproachAsset Management Approach

Policy DrivenPolicy Driven -- Decisions basedDecisions basedon well defined policyon well defined policy

Performance BasedPerformance Based -- PolicyPolicydecisions drive the outcomesdecisions drive the outcomes

Analytical AnalysisAnalytical Analysis -- ResourceResourceallocation based on modernallocation based on moderninvestment analysis and best valueinvestment analysis and best valueconceptsconcepts

Allows better communication with stakeholders, legislature and pAllows better communication with stakeholders, legislature and publicublic

Better able to allocate resources to most needed workBetter able to allocate resources to most needed work

Decisions based on Quality InformationDecisions based on Quality Information -- Investment decision basedInvestment decision basedon accurate and timely dataon accurate and timely data

Monitoring for AccountabilityMonitoring for Accountability -- Performance results are monitored forPerformance results are monitored foraccountability and efficiency improvementaccountability and efficiency improvement

Mix of FixesMix of Fixes

Mix of FixesMix of Fixes -- Keep good bridges goodKeep good bridges good

MaintenanceMaintenance

Routine & CorrectiveRoutine & Corrective

PreservationPreservation

Extend Service LifeExtend Service Life

RehabilitationRehabilitation

Restore to new like conditionRestore to new like condition

ReplacementReplacement

Mix of FixesMix of Fixes

Current Funding of NC BridgesCurrent Funding of NC Bridges

Statewide bridge maintenance budget for FY 07Statewide bridge maintenance budget for FY 07--0808is $65 Mis $65 M

Beginning Preservation Program ( $15M)Beginning Preservation Program ( $15M)

Federal FundsFederal Funds

System Preservation Maintenance FundsSystem Preservation Maintenance Funds

Overweight truck feesOverweight truck fees

NCDOT replaces ~ 120 bridges per year at anNCDOT replaces ~ 120 bridges per year at anaverage expenditure of $200 M/yr.average expenditure of $200 M/yr.

Current maintenance needs as documented by theCurrent maintenance needs as documented by theinspectors are ~ $350 Minspectors are ~ $350 M

ChallengesChallenges

Aging BridgesAging Bridges

Predictive modeling tool estimates # DeficientPredictive modeling tool estimates # Deficientbridges to grow to ~ 7,000 by 2020bridges to grow to ~ 7,000 by 2020

Balance between bridge replacement projects andBalance between bridge replacement projects andenvironmental stewardshipenvironmental stewardship

Limited Replacement FundsLimited Replacement Funds

Competition for Maintenance Dollars with otherCompetition for Maintenance Dollars with otherInfrastructure NeedsInfrastructure Needs

Transition to 21st CenturyTransition to 21st CenturyOrganizationOrganization

Effort has evolved since early 2000Effort has evolved since early 2000’’ss

ItIt’’s a continuous processs a continuous process

Adopt what weAdopt what we’’ve started and accelerate theve started and accelerate thegood practicesgood practices